About maketodayrock.com: We celebrate musicians' birthdays, remember those we've lost, and highlight key moments in music such a release dates, chart peak dates, or anything else tied to a specific date. Pick any day from the menu in the top right. The front page shows recent obituaries.
April 12, 1972 ~ Pop group the Bee Gees record Run To Me at IBC Studios, London, UK ~ Written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb. Co-produced with Robert Stigwood. Released in July as the lead single of the band's 1972 To Whom It May Concern album, featuring Road To Alaska on the flip side. It would reach top 10 of the UK charts
April 12, 1971 ~ Jazz, bebop, hard bop pianist, composer Wynton Kelly, full name Wynton Charles Kelly, passed away in Toronto, Canada ~ Inventive jazz pianist influential on the likes of Monty Alexander, Chick Corea, Brad Mehldau, Chucho Valdes. As a leader especially acclaimed for the late 1950s albums Piano (Whisper Not) and Kelly Blue, and for the 1965 live album Smokin' At The Half Note. Also well known for his stint with Miles Davis from the late 1950s through the early 1960s, including on the seminal Kind Of Blue album. In-demand sideman, present on albums by Dizzy Gillespie (School Days), Art Farmer, JJ Johnson, Dinah Washington (Dinah), Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues), Lee Morgan, Frank Wess, Sonny Rollins (Newk's Time), Booker Little, John Coltrane (Giant Steps), Benny Golson, Abbey Lincoln (Abbey Is Blue), Paul Chambers, Cannonball Adderley (The Cannonball Adderley Quintet In Chicago), Blue Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard (Open Sesame), Hank Mobley (Roll Call), Helen Humes, Sam Jones (The Chant), Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Wes Montgomery, Bunky Green (My Baby), Clifford Jordan (In The World), Gene Ammons, and Dexter Gordon ~ Kelly was born in 1931April 12, 1970 ~ Alternative rock singer, guitarist Nick Hexum, full name Nicholas Lofton Hexum, born in Madison, Wisconsin, USA ~ Lead singer for rock outfit 311, known for songs such as Down, All Mixed Up, Come Original, You Wouldn't Believe, Creatures (For A While), Love Song, Don't Tread On Me, and Hey You. Hexum has also worked with George Clanton, the Urge, Sugar Ray, Goldfinger, the Dirty Heads, Neverending White Lights, and Disco Fries
April 12, 1970 ~ Progressive metal, jazz, jazz fusion, rock bassist, keyboardist, guitarist Sean Malone born in Delran, New Jersey, USA ~ Best known as member of Cynic. Noted for his chemistry with bandmate drummer Sean Reinert. Released his Cortlandt solo album in 2007, featuring guests such as Trey Gunn, Ron Jarzombek, John Myung. Has also worked with Gordian Knot, Roadrunner United, Spiral Architect, Spastic Ink, Anomaly, James Labrie, Aghora, Cygnus, and Dream Theater ~ Malone passed away in 2020
April 12, 1968 ~ Producer, songwriter, talent scout Lester Melrose, full name Lester Frank Melrose, passed away in Lake, Florida, USA ~ One of the first Chicago blues producers. Brother of music publisher Walter Melrose and jazz pianist Franklyn Melrose. Worked with artists such as King Oliver, Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson I, Memphis Minnie, Roosevelt Sykes, Lonnie Johnson, Big Joe Williams, Bukka White, Washboard Sam, Champion Jack Dupree, Jazz Gillum, Arthur Crudup, Victoria Spivey, and Leroy Carr ~ Melrose was born in 1891
April 12, 1967 ~ Ulpiano Sergio Reyes, commonly known as MC Mellow Man Ace, born in Havana, Cuba ~ Brother of Sen Dog, with whom he also worked including under the moniker the Reyes Brothers. Known for his bilingual delivery and novelty rhymes. Co-founding member of Cypress Hill, departing the band before any recordings were made. Member of the Latin Alliance. As a solo artist best known for the Billboard Hot 100 top 20 hit Mentirosa of his 1989 Escape From Havana debut albumApril 12, 1966 ~ Jazz guitarist, singer Nils-Olav Johansen born in Bjugn, Norway ~ Worked with Farmers Market, the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Stale Storløkken, Sverre Gjørvad, the Storytellers, the Blix Band, Håvard Lund, Eldbjørg Raknes, and Solveig Slettahjell
April 12, 1966 ~ Country singer, guitarist Tracy Coster born ~ Daughter of renowned singer, songwriter Stan Coster. Started singing in her father's band in her early teens. As a solo artist active since the mid-1980s, releasing her full-length From The Heart debut album in 1987. Noted for the Tremeloes-cover Someone released by Coster in 1994
April 12, 1965 ~ Delroy Thompson, commonly known as reggae, dancehall singer Pinchers, born in Jamaica ~ Known for songs such as Abrakabra, Eat Man, Jailhpuse Hot, Agony, and Bandelero. Worked with King Jammy, Philip Fatis Burrell, Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Jackie Mittoo, and Robbie LynnApril 12, 1965 ~ Bassist Sean Welch born in Enfield, UK ~ Formerly a roadie for the Housemartins, Welch is best known as a core member of the Beautiful South scoring a string of UK hits starting in the 1990s including the top 10 hits A Song For Whoever, A Little Time, Rotterdam (Or Anywhere), Don't Marry Her, and Perfect 10
April 12, 1964 ~ Singer Amy Ray, full name Amy Elizabeth Ray, born in Decatur, Georgia, USA ~ Forms the folk rock duo the Indigo Girls with Emily Saliers, known for songs such as Closer To Fine, Hammer And Nail, Galileo, Shame On You and Fill It Up Again . Has also released a number of solo albums, starting with Stag released in 2001
April 12, 1964 ~ Singer, guitarist, songwriter Deryl Dodd, full name Deryl Dwayne Dodd, born in Dallas, Texas, USA ~ Worked with Tracy Lawrence, Martina McBride, Radney Foster, George Ducas, and Tim McGraw. Debuted as a solo artist with the album One Ride In Vegas in 1996. Known for songs such as That's How I Got To Memphis, Bitter End, and Let Me BeApril 12, 1963 ~ Herbert Horatio Nichols, commonly known as jazz pianist, composer Herbie Nichols passed away in New York, New York, USA ~ Wrote the classic Lady Sings The Blues, made famous by Billie Holiday. Obscure during his lifetime, now highly regarded by many ~ Nichols was born in 1919
April 12, 1962 ~ Alternative rock, post-grunge, punk rock singer, guitarist, bassist, mandolinist, banjoist, keyboardist, songwriter Art Alexakis, full name Arthur Paul Alexakis, born in Los Angeles, California, USA ~ Best known as guitarist and founding member of Everclear, teaming up with Craig Montoya and Scott Cuthbert. Penned some of the band's best known including Santa Monica, Everything To Everyone, and Father Of Mine, all favorites of late 1990s alt-radio. Also worked with the Easy Hoes, Colorfinger, and Frogpond, and released his Sun Songs solo debut album in 2019. Alexakis is known as a political activist involved in charities relating to child abuse, drug awareness and support for veteransApril 12, 1962 ~ Singer Connie Francis records Tu Mir Nicht Weh ~ German version of Francis' Don't Break The Heart That Loves You hit. Written by Ted Murry, Benny Davis, Fini Busch. Produced by Gerhard Mendelsohn. Connie Francis released the song as a single later the same year, b/w Paradiso. It would reach top 10 on the German pop charts
April 12, 1962 ~ Guitarist Rob Baker born in Kingston, Canada ~ Lead guitarist for rock outfit the Tragically Hip, active since the mid-1980s and most acclaimed for albums such as Up To Here and Fully Completely. Over the years the band has regularly reached the higher echelons of the charts in their native Canada. Well known songs include Little Bones, Locked In The Trunk Of A Car, Courage, Greasy Jungle, Poets, Fireworks, and Bobcaygeon. Baker has also worked with the side project the Strippers Union
April 12, 1961 ~ Avant-garde, neoclassical dark wave, new age singer, songwriter Lisa Gerrard, full name Lisa Germaine Gerrard, born in Melbourne, Australia ~ Formed Dead Can Dance in 1981 with Brendan Perry, acclaimed for a string of albums through the 1990s. Gerrard is praised for her unique singing style, a dramatic contralto voice with a three octave range and often singing in non-existent languages comparable to speaking in tongues. Gerrard has also recorded as a solo artist, starting with The Mirror Pool released in 1995, and collaborated with a wide array of composers including Pieter Bourke, Patrick Cassidy, Klaus Schulze, and Hans Zimmer. Also noted for composing and contributing to the scores for well over 40 films, notably 2000's Gladiator and 2009's Balibo
April 12, 1961 ~ Rock singer, guitarist Richard Janssen born in Manchester, UK ~ Frontman, co-founder of Amsterdam-based rock outfit Fatal Flowers, best known for their 1986 single Younger Days. After the band's disbandement in 1990 fronted Shine, with whom he recorded the albums Boys and Modern Popmusic, recorded as a solo artist going by the moniker Rex, and backed Ellen ten DammeApril 12, 1959 ~ Guitarist Joan Eloi Vila, full name Joan Eloi Vila de Paz, born in Barcelona, Spain ~ In-demand collaborator and backing musician. Member of children's group Els Xipis. Has collaborated with the Barcelona Orchestra on La Salseta Del Poble Sec. Has backed artists such Jimmy Page, Joan Baptista Humet, Joaquin Sabina and Joan Isaac on tours ~ Vila passed away in 2021
April 12, 1958 ~ Guitarist Will Sergeant, full name William Alfred Sergeant, born in Liverpool, UK ~ Best known as a member of 1980s post-punk outfit Echo & the Bunnymen, known for songs such as The Cutter, The Killing Moon, Nothing Lasts Forever. As a solo artist known for his minimalism and atmospherics. Had self-produced his 1978 Weird As Fish solo debut album, making only seven copies until an official re-release 25 years later
April 12, 1957 ~ Vincent Grant Gill, commonly known as country, country pop, gospel, bluegrass, rock singer, guitarist, banjoist, mandolinist, fiddler, songwriter Vince Gill, born in Norman, Oklahoma, USA ~ Fronted Pure Prairie League, present on the albums Can't Hold Back, Firin' Up, and Something In The Night. Departed the band in 1981 to join Rodney Crowell's backing unit the Notorious Cherry Bombs. Best known as a solo artist, with well over a dozen albums to his name starting with The Things That Matter released in 1985. Joined country swing band the Time Jumpers in 2010. Following the death of Glenn Frey in 2016 joined the Eagles serving as co-lead guitarist, backing singer and occasional lead singer. Once declined an offer by Mark Knopfler to join the Dire Straits, though guested on the band's 1991 On Every Street
April 12, 1956 ~ Singer, actor Herbert Grönemeyer, full name Herbert Arthur Wiglev Clamor Grönemeyer, born in Göttingen, West Germany ~ Initially known as actor, notably in the 1981 cult film Das Boot, but would later focus on his music career. Especially noted for his 1984 4630 Bochum and his 2002 Mensch albums, both ranking among the all-time best-selling records in Germany. Known best for songs such as Männer, Was Soll Das, Deine Liebe Klebt, Mensch, Zeit Dass Sich Was Dreht and Morgen
April 12, 1955 ~ Rock, pop singer, guitarist, songwriter Jean-Louis Aubert born in Nantua, France ~ Co-founding member of Téléphone, known for songs such as Hygiaphone, Métro C'Est Trop, La Bomb Humaine, Ça C'Est Vraiment Toi, New York Avec Toi and Un Autre Monde. After the band disbanded in 1986 entured out on his own releasing his Plâtre Et Ciment debut album the following year. As a solo artist best known for the albums Stockholm and Roc, released respectively in 1197 and 2012April 12, 1954 ~ Singer, actress Carolyn Dennis born in Missouri, USA ~ Best known for her work with and marriage to Bob Dylan. The couple were married from 1986 until 1992 and have one daughter. The marriage and parenthood were completely unknown to Dylan fans and the media until the 2001 publication of the biography Down The Highway (The Life Of Bob Dylan). Dennis has sung backup for Minnie Riperton, the Carpenters, Kenny Loggins, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Wonder, appearing on the latter's 1976 Songs In The Key Of Life masterpiece album. Dennis also provided the singing voice for the 1991 TV biopic The Josephine Baker Story
April 12, 1954 ~ Guitarist, keyboardist, singer, songwriter Pat Travers, full name Patrick Henry Travers, born in Toronto, Canada ~ Active since the 1970s. Cited as an influence by both Paul Gilbert and Metallica's Kirk Hammett. Best known for fronting the Pat Travers Band, which at times included Nicko McBrain, Tommy Aldridge, and Carmine Appice